Survivors call for full inquiry into decades of abuse

There was an unusually emotionally charged atmosphere inside parliament’s committee room 14 on Wednesday. It began with the failure of the microphones. “It’s a cover-up!” someone immediately yelled to the sound of much laughter from the packed room. A joke, but one that reflected the sentiments of many in this group who have understandably high levels of mistrust in the establishment.

For years, victims of child abuse have felt silenced, ignored and failed by institutions which should have protected them. There is a particular anger towards MPs and parliament – one campaigner reminded the audience: “We are not in the house of friends”. Another pointed out: “We’ve been labelled publicity seekers and conspiracy theorists.”

The WhiteFlowers Campaign Group – a loose body of abuse survivors and their supporters – had come to parliament to lobby MPs and hold a public meeting demanding action on the government-appointed inquiry into child sexual abuse.

The inquiry is meant to be considering how public bodies and institutions might have failed in protecting children from sexual abuse in England and Wales, but has suffered a series of false starts and been mired in controversy.

Resigned

The Home Secretary Theresa May is currently in the process of appointing a new chair for the inquiry, after both the previously appointed chairs were forced to resign, having lost the confidence of victims groups over their personal connections.

Secretary of Whistleblowers UK, Georgina Halford Hall told Channel 4 News there had been an “absence of transparency”, saying that the people originally appointed to the inquiry panel were now being restricted from telling survivors what was going on, and this was “impossible to accept”.

Those who gathered in parliament want a new chair who has “demonstrably stood up to the establishment”. They are also demanding a full statutory inquiry to cover all organised and institutional child abuse after 1945, a parallel national police investigation team and a newly appointed panel which is “fit for purpose”.

Campaigners say Wednesday’s event was held as a reminder to Theresa May that child abuse survivors would be vocal and hold the inquiry accountable.

Ian McFadyen was one of 30 children abused at Caldicott school in Buckinghamshire in the 1960s and 70s. He says he’s been “silenced for 30 years, but no one can shut me up now.” Mr McFadyen told the meeting he had “sat with many politicians who’ve fed me many a line. But they underestimate the survivors.”

‘Heads on spikes’

One after the other, speaker after speaker – victims of abuse, whistleblowers and campaigners – spoke movingly about their own experiences and frustrations with the institutional establishment. One woman stood up to declare for the first time that she too is a survivor of child abuse. The crowd applauded her bravery and nodded furiously as another survivor called for “heads on spikes”, reflecting their demand for accountability.

All of those at the meeting were united in wanting a serious inquiry that victims can trust. One survivor said he felt like the current set-up has been “written on the back of a fag packet”. But amongst all this anger, can any newly appointed chair or panel really have the support and backing of all groups and abuse survivors?

Despite the call for unity in the room, there is disagreement over how the inquiry should be revised and who is suitable to appear on the panel. One campaigner said it was necessary to “get the street on the panel”. Another was shouted down with cries of “We don’t believe you” when he said the police were now taking child abuse seriously.

Theresa May has reportedly told survivors of child abuse she intends to have an inquiry, chaired by someone with their trust, in place before the general election. Wednesday’s event demonstrates just how difficult and yet much needed this will be.